The Sun, the Moon, and the Lotus: Works by Jeon Soo-min

The Korean Cultural Center Washington, D.C. proudly presents The Sun, the Moon, and the Lotus (Il-wol Yeonwha-do, 日月蓮花圖), a new exhibition of contemporary works by Jeon Soo-min that reinterprets traditional Korean landscape and folk paintings to create a modern vision of oriental art.

Jeon Soo-min combines a unique perspective on Korean landscape paintings to create dreamlike art that re-envisions and recompiles the rich natural symbolism of traditional folk paintings. With a particular eye for the lotus plant and its many-layered meanings, Jeon expressed the balance of yin and yang through a rich blue and gold palette. Imagery of the sun and the moon anchor this positive-negative duality, and her overall compositions reflect the traditional Korean philosophy of five natural elements and five essential colors. Jeon strives to create oriental painting for a modern era while utilizing traditional Korean paper, lyrical expression, and understated colors. As her first U.S. solo exhibition, more than 50 works presented here strike a profound sense of harmony between the sun, the moon, and the illusive, evocative lotus.

Jeon Soo-min graduated with a degree in Korean painting from Changwon National University in Korea in 2008, where she has since continued to pursue her graduate studies. In 2012-13, she was a resident artist at Yeongdam Hanji Art Museum, and has participated in numerous group and solo exhibitions throughout Korea. She recently presented her unique artwork at exhibitions in France and Japan, to a warm reception.

Admission to the opening reception on Friday, December 4 at 6:00 p.m. is free, but an RSVP is required (below). This exhibition will remain on view through Dec. 18 (no RSVP required during regular hours: M-F, 9 am-noon & 1:30-5:30 pm).